General Engineer-Physical Scientist

National Nuclear Security Administration • Oak Ridge, TN

28d • Onsite

About The Position

A successful candidate in this position will support the NNSA Y-12 Field Office (YFO) Assistant Manager for Programs and Projects, providing oversight of projects at the National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, TN. Duties As a General Engineer/Physical Scientist you will: Provides scientific/engineering advice, guidance and assistance to NNSA program offices or site managers on the interpretation and application of technical requirements and policies, execution of priorities and schedules, implementation of data exchanges and standardization, evaluation of significant modifications and/or alternative approaches, and initiation of revisions or corrective actions as required. Develops estimates for inclusion in program budget, supporting data and justifications for assigned program segments; reviews budget input from contractors, making revisions as appropriate. Interprets budget assumptions, and prepares budget narratives and long range budget estimates. Defends budget estimates to senior program managers through written and oral justifications. Recommends revisions to program schedules and resource information. Establishes and tracks performance against technical milestones. Reviews progress of engineering/scientific technical activities; compares costs and schedules to established baseline; and provides timely and accurate status reports to management. Evaluates field site and/or contractor performance. Conducts annual reviews of budget documents, strategic plans, management commitments, regulatory compliance agreements and incentive contracts and fees to ensure consistency with program guidance and approved baselines, reviews deviations in critical path, and recommends changes in performance measures and other milestones/events. Independently makes decisions concerning both technical and administrative policies and resolves controversial problems and/or conflicting points of view concerning the adequacy of the contractor's environmental, safety and health procedures or compliance with applicable orders, laws, and regulations.

Requirements

• Subject to Random Drug Testing
• Must pass a pre-employment drug test.
• Favorable suitability determination required.
• Financial Disclosure is required.
• Must be able to obtain/maintain a Q level Security Clearance.
• You must be a United States Citizen.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements.
• Compliance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-12) governing personal identity which will require that you provide two forms of identification.
• A two (2) year trial period may be required.
• Employees serving on a trial period may be terminated at any time during the probationary or trial period for performance, conduct, or business-related reasons in the interest of Federal service.
• More than one position may be filled from this vacancy announcement.
• Confidential Financial Disclosure required
• Must be able to obtain certification in the DOE's Technical Qualification Program (TQP) within 18 months of start date.
• This position is covered by the Technical Qualification Program (TQP), which requires the incumbent to acquire and demonstrate competencies identified in the TQP Functional Area Qualification and Field Office specific standards and requires certification of the competencies by NNSA supervision and TQP qualifying officials.
• Please limit your resume to no more than two (2) pages. If more than two pages are submitted, you will be disqualified.
• Trial periods are required for all excepted service employees. Trial periods served in the same position and agency with no break in service will satisfy the requirement.
• A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower NNSA pay band level or GS grade level in the Federal Service, i.e.. EN-00/NN/NQ-02, or GS-11.
• Specialized experience for this position is defined as: Experience ensuring regulatory compliance of program and project activities such as construction, facility modification, equipment installation and land management; reviewing guidance, program plans and strategies to support the realization of mission and technical requirements; and recommending solutions to scientific, engineering, or program management with respect to risks and issues in achieving mission requirements through project execution.
• Examples of Qualified Experience: Develop a project plan including its scope, key milestones, schedule, costs and risks.
• Measured the performance of a project using indicators such as its incurred costs, schedule and milestones.
• Your application and resume should demonstrate that you possess the following competencies. Do not provide a separate narrative written statement. Rather, you must describe in your application how your past work experience demonstrates that you possess the KSAs identified below. Cite specific examples of employment or experience contained in your resume and describe how this experience has prepared you to successfully perform the duties of this position. DO NOT write "see resume" in your application!
• General Engineering
• Financial Management
• Technical Competence
• Decision Making
• Team Building
• "Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills; and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.
• You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
• You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
• To qualify for the 1301 Physical Scientist: EDUCATION: A. Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics. OR B. Combination of education and experience: education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
• To qualify for the 0801 General Engineer: EDUCATION: A. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. OR B. Combination of education and experience: college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions. Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A. Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions.
• Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications; applicant's resumes and supporting documentation should only reflect education received from schools accredited by such institutions.
• Applicants can verify accreditation at the following Website: https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home .
• You must submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable) from an accredited institution listing the college/university, degree confirmation date(s) and applicable courses for the position you are applying to.
• If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency (a U.S. private organization's interpretation that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to conventional U.S. education programs) with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.
• If you are selected, official transcripts will be required.
• Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

Nice To Haves

• Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Responsibilities

• Provides scientific/engineering advice, guidance and assistance to NNSA program offices or site managers on the interpretation and application of technical requirements and policies, execution of priorities and schedules, implementation of data exchanges and standardization, evaluation of significant modifications and/or alternative approaches, and initiation of revisions or corrective actions as required.
• Develops estimates for inclusion in program budget, supporting data and justifications for assigned program segments; reviews budget input from contractors, making revisions as appropriate.
• Interprets budget assumptions, and prepares budget narratives and long range budget estimates.
• Defends budget estimates to senior program managers through written and oral justifications.
• Recommends revisions to program schedules and resource information.
• Establishes and tracks performance against technical milestones.
• Reviews progress of engineering/scientific technical activities; compares costs and schedules to established baseline; and provides timely and accurate status reports to management.
• Evaluates field site and/or contractor performance.
• Conducts annual reviews of budget documents, strategic plans, management commitments, regulatory compliance agreements and incentive contracts and fees to ensure consistency with program guidance and approved baselines, reviews deviations in critical path, and recommends changes in performance measures and other milestones/events.
• Independently makes decisions concerning both technical and administrative policies and resolves controversial problems and/or conflicting points of view concerning the adequacy of the contractor's environmental, safety and health procedures or compliance with applicable orders, laws, and regulations.

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits .
• Review our benefits
• Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.
• Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level